Wanpipe Asterisk Faxing

Asterisk T.38 Faxing with External Voice/Router Box

A number of Sangoma customers are using Asterisk plus an External Voice Router Box; e.g., Mediatrix or Audio Codes, as a reliable T.38 faxing solution.

Network Diagram:

Telco <------ t1/e1 pri -----> [Sangoma Port1] <-----------------> [Zaptel/Asterisk]
|
Fax <--> [ATA] <-- sip --> [ Router ] <-- t1/e1 pri -> [ Sang Port2 ] <-|

In this scenario, it is important to note that the External Router T.38 box must have a strong signal from Asterisk/Zaptel [ Sangoma Port2 ]. Customers have reported that txgain must be increased for proper fax operation.

In /etc/asterisk/zapata.conf
For group2 [sangoma port2] section set
txgain = 8
rxgain = 1
Adjust txgain util you get desired fax performance.

It is also recommended that Sangoma Port2 be configured to use the incoming clock from Sangoma Port1.

in /etc/wanpipe/ directory
wanpipe1.conf -> sangoma port1
wanpipe2.conf -> sangoma port2
Set wanpipe1.conf Port1 to receive incoming clock from Telco
TE_CLOCK=NORMAL
Set wanpipe2.conf Port2 to receive incoming clock from Port1
TE_CLOCK=MASTER
TE_REF_CLOCK=1
Set the External Router T.38 box for Slave clocking.

This way, the whole system uses a single clock that is received from the telco.

Faxing using Asterisk-IAXmodem-HylaFax

Robust and reliable faxing can be achieved by using HylaFax. Iaxmodem is used to interface Asterisk with HylaFax.

PSTN <-> Sangoma Card <-> Zaptel <-> Asterisk <-> IAXmodem

IAXmodem website: http://iaxmodem.sourceforge.net/
Softwitch (Spandsp) website: http://www.soft-switch.org/
HylaFax website: http://www.hylafax.org/

Please note that this is a quickstart guide, for more detailed configuration check the respective product websites and READMEs.

1. Package requirements

libtiff
libtiff-devel

2. Installing IAXmodem
    Untar your IAXmodem tarball (/usr/src/)
    #> cd /usr/src/
    #> tar xvfz iaxmodem-0.1.14.tar.gz
    Install libiax2:

The libiax2 source is included with IAXmodem
#> cd /usr/src/iaxmodem-0.1.14/lib/libiax2
#> ./configure
#> make; make install

Install spandsp:

The spandsp source is included with IAXmodem
#> cd /usr/src/iaxmodem-0.1.14/lib/spandsp
#> ./configure
#> make; make install

Install IAXmodem and create a symbolic link for IAXmodem in /usr/sbin

#> cd /usr/src/iaxmodem-0.1.14/
#> ./build
#> ln -s /usr/sbin/iaxmodem iaxmodem

3. Running IAXmodem

IAXmodem can be run in daemon and non-daemon mode, it is recommended to run IAXmodem in non-daemon mode during the installation/configuration for easier debugging and then run it in daemon mode once all configuration is working.

Create the /etc/iaxmodem/ directory to store your IAXmodem configuration files:
#> mkdir /etc/iaxmodem

You will need a separate configuration file for each fax line. Configuration for each fax line are stored in /etc/iaxmodem/<name of fax device>.

Create a configuration file for a fax device called ttyIAX1
#> vi /etc/iaxmodem/ttyIAX1
---begin here---
device          /dev/ttyIAX1
uucp:uucp
mode            660
port            4571 ; you will need a different port for each device
refresh         60
server          127.0.0.1
peername        iaxmodem1
secret          password
cidname         John Doe
cidnumber       8005551212

codec           ulaw
---end here---

For more details about parameter options, see /usr/src/iaxmodem/README

Add an IAX account for this modem in Asterisk:
#> vi /etc/asterisk/iax.conf
---begin here---
[iaxmodem1]
type=friend
secret=password
host=dynamic
port=4671
context=outgoingfax
allow=all
---end here---

type "reload" in the Asterisk CLI to apply changes.

Start IAXmodem for ttyIAX1
#> iaxmodem ttyIAX1

Start hylafax for ttyIAX1

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